Bumper



June 20; 1933. P. w. JOHNSON 1,915,231

BUMPER Filed Nov. 27, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [77 Va 27 t o r Percy W Johnson by W W 14/5 flzrcrney;

June 20, 1933. P. w. JOHNSO-N BUMPER Filed Nov. 27, 1931 .2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /77 V6 27 t o r Percg W Johnson Patented June 20, 1933 UNITED-[S ATE PATENT OFFICE.

PERCY w. Johnson, on ALBANY, NEW YORK BUMPER Application filed November 27, 1931. Serial No. 577,416.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of a bumper divided into sections which are biased to rotate in such a-direction as to move an object, when encountered by the bumper, out of the path of the vein the specification and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

My invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which I have illustrated a, preferred embodiment thereof and in wl1ich-- Fig. 1 is a side View of the chassis ofa vehicle and the parts embodying my invention mounted thereon;

Fig. 2'is a planview; v

Fig. 3 is a perspective view, partially in section, of a bumper embodying my invention- Fig. t is a perspective view of the part shown in Fig. 1 and also illustrating diagrammatically the ignition circuit for the vehicle; and

Figs 5, 6, and 7 are detail views illustrating the normal position of one sectionof a bumper, the position it assumes when it has encountered an obstacle and the position that it occupies when the bumper has been rotated to move the obstacle from the path of the vehicle, respectively.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the drawings. Referring now to the drawings, 10 ndicates generally the chassis of an automobile on the front and rear of which is mounted a bumper indicated at 11. As the construction and operation of the bumper at each end of the vehicle are the same, or substantially the same, and as the construction and operation of one of the sections of a given bumper are the same. as that of the other section-,the descriptionof one section will suffice for all four sections. i

The front bumper comprises twosections 111 and 112 mounted on longitudinally movable members 12 which are shown in the form of round bars or rods having their bearings at 13 secured to the chassis. .The members 12 at the front and rear of the vehicle telescope with a rod 14 as best shown in Fig. l, the rod extending from the-bar 12 at one end of the vehicle to the bar 12 at the other end of the vehicle and having a hearing at 15 which is also secured to the chassis of the vehicle.

For convenience, I will describe the section 111 of the bumper located at the front end of the vehicle. To the front end of the bar 12 is secured a forked member 16 and the upper and lower horizontal barsof the section 111 are provided with respective lugs 17 which engage the upper and lower portions of the yoke 16 as bestshown in Fig. 3. A bar 18 passes through the openings in the lugs 17 and the prongs'of the yoke 16,

and is preferably secured to the lugs as by set screws 19.

Means is provided for yieldingly resisting the longitudinal movement of the bars 12, and in the embodiment illustrated, comprises a spring 20 located in a recess 21 formed in the rear end of the bar 12 (Fig. 1) and disposed '7 between the bottom of the recess and the bar 14. A collar 22 is preferably secured to the bar 12 at therear of the bearing 13 and which limits the forward movement of the bar 12.

rounded by the coiled portions of a tension spring 23 which are wound around the bar from the intermediate portion thereof, the

ends of the spring preferably engaging the Means 1s also provided for rotating elther section of the bumper about the axis 18. In the embodiment illustrated, the bar 18 is survehicle and the outer ends thereofsimultaa 'neously moving to the rear.

Means is also provided for normally locking the sections of the bumper so that they are in alignment with each other. In the embodiment illustrated, such means comprises a latch 24 mounted on a bar or rod 25 which may conveniently be secured to the inner bent ends 26 of a section of the bumper. Normal-- ly the latch 24 engages a detent in the form of a head 27 on a member 28 secured to across bar 29 of the chassis.

On the detent 24 is pivotally mounted an other detent 30 which is .adapted to engage a:-

lug 31 mounted on one of the transverse bars of the section of the bumper, the upper bar in the embodiment illustrated,.and the pawl or'detent 30 isforced forwardlyby a spring the rear of the vehicle 'servesto limitfthe' rearward movement of the bar 12." Atthe same time the detent 24lrides rearwardly along the inclined portion 'ofthe member 28 as indicated in Fig. 6 untilthe detent 30 engages the lug'31 and the spring 32 retains the detent 30, in locked position. The looped portion 231 ofthe spring 23 causes the section 111 of the bumper to rotate'anti-clockwise as viewed in F ig. 2, and to the position shown in Fig. 6, thereby tending to sweep the obstaclein frontof the bumper to the left along -the incline ofthe section out'of thelpath of the vehicle. During the rotation of the section of the bumper. the detent 30 which now engages the lug prevents the detent 24 from ,re-engaging the head 27 as will be evident from Figs. 6 and 7. I

In accordance with mv .mvention, means 'are also preferablv provided for actuating the: emergency brake'of thevehicle when either section of either the front or'rear bumper is vactuated in the manner'heretofore l described.

7 IAgain considering the bumper and the associated parts at the front end of the vehicle, a crossbar 33 extends transversely of the vehicle and on each .end thereof, is mounted an arm 34 of a three-armed lever indicated generally at 35, said-lever being pivoted at 36 onabracket 361. The upper armBT ofsaid lever 1s provided .with a forwardly extending member 38- which is located in the path ofa.

lug 39on the bar 12. The lower arm40 of thethree-armed lever is pivoted to alink 41 provided-with a -.p1n4 2 engaging withinla slot 43 in the lower portion of the emergency brake handle 44 pivoted at 45 on a bracket 46 secured to the chassis. The brake handle is provided with the usual hand latch 47 engaging a ratchet 48.

A cross bar 33 is also provided at the rear of the vehicle. Three-armed levers indicated generally 'at 35 are also provided on either side of the vehicle at the rear portion thereof and whichare operated by the sections of the rear bumper in thesame manner as the corresponding levers at the front end of the vehicle. These three-armed levers are also connectedbya crossbar 33, and the actuation of either of the three-armed levers by the assoeiated'section of the bumper will move the link 41 by means of a pin 49 which is received in a recess 50 in an enlarged portion of the link 41 and thereby actuates the emergency brake in a mannerthat will be obvious.

Means are also preferably provided for opening the ignition circuit of the vehicle when either section of either of the bumpers is operated in the -manner heretofore described-" Referring to Fig. 4, 51 indicates an ignition circuit including a battery 52, a distributor 53 and the usual manually operated ignition switch 54, the circuit being grounded as indicated. The circuit is controlled by a lever 55 pivoted at 56, the end of the lever engaging a contact 57 included in the circuit. To the upper end of the lever is pivotally connected a link 58, the other end of which is connected to an arm.59 of the three-armed lever 35. When the rear bumper of the ve-- hicle encounters an obstacle, the three armed lever 35 is rotated about its pivot, and when the front bumper encounters an obstacle, the link 41 is actuated torotate the three-armed lever 35 about its pivot, and in either case the three-armed lever is rotated anti-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 4, and the ignition circuit is opened at the contact57.

In order to prevent the opening ofthe ignition circuit by the ordinary operation of the emergency brake handle, the latter is provided with a manually operated link 60 which is raised when the operator grasps the handle to raise the ,link'41 and thereby disengage the same from the pin 49. 'While I have described my invention in its preferred embodiment it is to be understood that the words whichIhave used are words of description and not of limitation and that changes within the sco e of the appended claims may be made wit out departing from the true scope and spirit of my invention in its broader aspects.

What I claim is: '1. In combination, a vehicle, a bumper comprising two sections pivotally mounted on the respective sides of the vehicle, a looking member comprising a head secured to the chassis,- latches mounted on the respective sectionsadapted to engage said head and nor mally retain sa-id sections in substantial alignment, means responsive to an impact against either section for releasing the associated lock from said head, and means for rotating the section when released about the pivot;

2. In Combination, a vehicle, a bumper comprising tWo sections pivotally mounted on the respective sides of the vehicleand bodily movable with respect thereto, means for yieldingly resisting the movement of said sections, means for normally locking the respective sections in substantial alignment, means responsive to an impact against either section for releasing the associated locking means, and means for rotating the section receiving the impact about its pivot.

PERCY W. JOHNSON. 

